Miami’s Wade and Dallas’ Nowitzki Named Players of the Month for December

Wade led the HEAT to a league-best 14-1 record during December, averaging 23.0 points on 48.4% shooting, 7.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds. He recorded his first career triple-double and only the fifth in franchise history with 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds against Detroit on December 30. Wade scored at least 20 points in 12 games, including a career-high eight consecutive games to finish the month, and recorded double-figure assists on five occasions, including a career-high three consecutive games from December 21-25.

Nowitzki helped the Mavericks to a 9-4 month, averaging 27.2 points on 42.7% shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.62 blocks. Nowitzki recorded a career-high 53 points, shooting 21-of-22 from the free throw line, had 16 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in a 113-106 overtime win over the Rockets on December 2. Nowitzki led Dallas in scoring in nine games during December, including four games of 30 or more points.

Other nominees for NBA Players of the Month included Charlotte's Emeka Okafor, Los Angeles Clippers' Corey Maggette, Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, New Jersey's Richard Jefferson, Orlando's Steve Francis, Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Washington's Gilbert Arenas.